Can the color of my Pietra Cardosa countertop be restored after spilling descaler?

Q. I have a Pietra Cardosa countertop. I was using a descaling chemical solution to clean an appliance and accidentally spilled some, leaving a handprint-sized discoloration. The black countertop has turned almost white in that area. If you have any suggestions for how I should go about restoring the black color or at least getting it to match as closely as possible to the rest of the countertop, that would be greatly appreciated!

A. Most likely, what you are dealing with is etch damage. This means the surface of the stone has been altered. Descaling solutions are great for dissolving mineral buildup and cleaning, but they can also damage stone surfaces by chemically reacting with calcium carbonate content in stone. To be clear, the discoloration you see is probably not a stain, which is caused when staining agents get absorbed into the pores of the surface. Unfortunately, when it comes to etch damage, there is usually no easy DIY fix.

Sometimes minor etch damage on softer stones with a polished surface can be removed with a polishing compound. In your case, the type of damage you describe seems significant, and a polishing compound will not likely work on Pietra Cardosa. You will need to have your countertop professionally honed and polished to restore the finish. To find a vetted PRO in your area, visit www.surfacecarepros.com and click on Find a PRO.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the Chief Technical Director at SurfaceCarePROS.com and Director at StoneForensics.com. He is also the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. [Learn more about Fred.]

Article ID: 752
Created: May 10, 2025
Last Updated: July 20, 2025
Author: Fred Hueston

Online URL: https://surfacecarepros.com/kb/article/can-the-color-of-my-pietra-cardosa-countertop-be-restored-after-spilling-descaler-752.html